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A100 section opens: Drivers celebrate after 12 years of protest!
On August 27, 2025, the extension of the A100 in Berlin was opened, despite protests and years of construction.
A100 section opens: Drivers celebrate after 12 years of protest!
On August 27, 2025, a new section of the A100 urban highway was ceremoniously opened in the capital. This 3.2 kilometer long section leads from the Neukölln triangle to the Treptower Park junction and is intended not only to relieve traffic in Berlin, but also to improve the connection to Berlin's BER airport. Entirely in the interests of motorists, as Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder (CDU) emphasized, who cut the ribbon together with Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU), accompanied by numerous protests from the population.
The construction time for this project was an impressive 12 years and the costs totaled 721 million euros. In the days before the opening there were repeated demonstrations against the construction. Around 280 police officers were on duty to monitor the mood. Immediately before the ceremony, a bridge was even attacked with paint, which further fueled the controversy surrounding the construction of the motorway {[Tagesschau]}.
Protests and resistance
Despite all the celebrations, the event was overshadowed by protests. Around 150 people gathered in front of the Hotel Estrel, where the opening took place, to demonstrate for an end to the motorway extensions. Representatives of the left called the construction “the most absurd street in Germany,” while the Greens pointed out the negative impact on residents. Greenpeace transport expert Lena Donat in particular expressed serious concerns and warned of the environmental consequences that the expansion would bring {[Day24]}.
However, Mayor Wegner rejected the critics and even spoke out in favor of a further extension of the A100 towards Friedrichshain and Lichtenberg. According to Wegner, this could shift traffic from neighboring residential areas onto the highway. With the opening of the new section, it is hoped that the burden on residents will be reduced and traffic flows can be better managed, even if critics doubt this {[Tagesschau]}.
Future prospects
As part of the discussion about the motorway extension, alternative approaches are also being considered. A new possibility is to examine an underground section through the Spree in order to relieve the city and, if necessary, create new areas for urban development. Experts argue that smart planning has the potential to not only relieve traffic, but also improve the quality of life for citizens by creating public green spaces and cycle paths {[Development City]}.
The plans for the next section, which will extend the A100 from Treptower Park to Storkower Straße, are also on the agenda. Both technical challenges and the impact on urban development are central issues. Many traffic researchers are skeptical as to whether the extended A100 will actually be a solution or rather a traffic attraction that will increase traffic in the region {[Day24]}.
The debate about the motorway extension shows once again how important it is to have a clever transport policy that takes both the needs of drivers and residents into account. The general conditions and the public discussion will show how the transport infrastructure in Berlin will continue to develop. While the new roadways were opened on the historic day, it remains to be seen whether they can achieve the desired effect or whether citizen resistance will play a larger role.